Years ago, I was sketching in the front yard of the guest house I was staying at in Santa Fe. A voice said, "I like your stone sculptures." I looked up, it was Julia Child. ( She was referring to some rock cairns I had assembled to decorate the yard). Turned out she was a relative of the owner of the mini- estate I was staying at. Wow, Julia Child. "I can't offer you anything because it would be so inferior and I would be totally humilitated." Another time, long ago and far away, I was-very early,about 6 AM,- rounding the corner of the Conservatory in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, I ran directly into Katharine Hepburn. I was really fkn stunned, speechless. Anyone else ever had this kind of experience. ( I've had others, but these two are the best.)

Jennings? That must've been awesome. I literally walked into David Cassidy at the track. He said, "Sorry kid" and kept on moving. I talked briefly with Joe Pesci there too, and have seen Bill Parcells placing a bet.

Not really a celebrity. But I had dinner with artist Evelyn Rosenberg (sat right next to her) earlier this year. She invented detonography. Anyway, when she walked into the room, it took me awhile to realize who she was, but when I did, I seriously flipped my shit. I saw her specials on the discovery channel and 20/20 YEARS ago.

Last time the Jaguar CLub was in Boston, I talked to David Arquette at the show. My GF sold him a T-Shirt. He was much better dressed than his red carpet appearances on E! would suggest. I also walked into a men's room at a play in Cambridge many years ago to see find it totally empty, save Christopher Walken zipping up his fly. I walked straight to the sink and did one of those "just came to the restroom to wash my hands, thanks very much" things. He complimented my tie. eery. EDIT: also, Tom Hanks was at my college graduation, but his daughter was in my class and the whole crowd was pointing like a pack of japanese tourists, so it was hardly "unexpected"

Donald Sutherland: grocery store in Magog
Johnny Depp: filming Secret Garden near my house; very down to earth and nice guy.
Pat Burns: nhl coach - at our hotel; a classless pig
Cliff Fletcher: another Leafs coach - nyc outside his hotel smoking a cigar. nice guy, and bigger than he looks on tv.
Doug Gilmour: Leaf's star center at the time - mother taught his daughter piano
Jose Theodor: Canadiens goalie - at our hotel
A closer for the blue jays rented our house when he got traded to the Jays. It was actually a big deal at the time. I could look him up but I don't really care. Baseball is ghey.

I'm not really a star-struck kinda guy. I literally almost bumped in to sutherland, told him I enjoyed his work, and left him alone. Depp was just a really nice, normal guy and I got to chat with him a few minutes. I was really young when I met Gilmour. His wife was really pretty. I remember her more. Theodor drove a boxster; 'nuff said. Burns drove a harley. he came in to the hotel, said he needed to use the washroom in an arrogant tone and proceeded to make a mess. Didn't say thanks or anything. The guy was a born asshole and the players thought so too.

I've had the pleasure of working in a place that caters to celebrities and having some high-profile friends of friends so the shock has worn off. However, as far as totally unexpected and random encounters go, I once stood beside Sylvester Stallone (his disabled son attends Grafton) in the local McDonald's. It was a little surreal. He ordered a McFish.